Tape dispensing device

ABSTRACT

An improved tape dispensing device for use on a cable lashing machine having a structure substantially as shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,663,544 issued Dec. 22, 1953 to Joseph J. Harley is disclosed and comprises a core and a roll of lashing tape thereon rotatably mounted in a compartment of the machine and a support member spaced therefrom and having spaced pins to tension the tape and guide roller to direct the tape from the device and toward a cable and supporting strand to be lashed together, as exemplary of the inventive concept.

United States Patent Neale, Sr.

[ Mar. 14, 1972 [54] TAPE DISPENSING DEVICE [72] Inventor: Dory J.Neale, Sr., 3710 Shore Acres Boulevard, St. Petersburg, Fla. 33703 [22]Filed: Nov. 27, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 93,244

[52] US. Cl ..254/134.3CL [5 1] Int. Cl. ..E2lc 29/16 [58] Field ofSearch ..254/134, 3 R, 3 CL [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS2,231,962 2/1941 St. John ..254/134.3 CL 3,024,000 9/ i962 Pfundt..254/1 34.3 CL

3,482,818 12/1969 Neale ..254/134.3CL

Primary Examiner-Othell M. Simpson AttorneyFishburn, Gold and Litman[57] ABSTRACT An improved tape dispensing device for use on a cablelashing machine having a structure substantially as shown and describedin US. Pat. No. 2,663,544 issued Dec. 22, 1953 to Joseph J. Harley isdisclosed and comprises a core and a roll of lashing tape thereonrotatably mounted in a compartment of the machine and a support memberspaced therefrom and having spaced pins to tension the tape and guideroller to direct the tape from the device and toward a cable andsupporting strand to be lashed together, as exemplary of the inventiveconcept.

10 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEBHAR 14 I972 sum 2 OF 3 INVENTOR.

BY Dory I Neale Sr.

ATTOR N EYS PATENTEDMAR 14 I972 SHEET 3 [IF 3 INVEN'RR DoryI Neale SATTO RN EYS TAPE DISPENSING DEVICE The present invention relates toapparatus for spinning lashing members about an aerial cable and itssupporting strand or messenger to attach the cable to said messengerand, more particularly, to an improved tape dispensing device for use ona cable lashing machine having a structure substantially as shown anddescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,663,544 issued Dec. 22, 1953 to Joseph J.Harley.

It is common practice to use machines for lashing cables to a messenger.The machines are supported on the messenger and pulled along themessenger by a rope, cable, chain, or the like, to cause rotation of aspinning head to wrap lashing wire or tape around the messenger tofasten the cable thereto. Lashing or spinning machines usually carry aspool or reel on which a coil or roll of wire or tape is mounted and thespool or reel'is revolved around the cable and supporting strand ormessenger to wind the wire or tape from the coil or reel in a spiral orhelical formation about the cable and strand as the machine is movedtherealong by the pulling rope, chain, cable, or the like.

The principal objects of the present invention are: to provide animprovement for cable lashing machines having a structure substantiallyas shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,663,544 issued Dec. 22, I953to Joseph J. Harley, said improvement being a tape dispensing device forconverting the machines from wire to tape; to provide such an improvedtape dispensing device wherein a roll of lashing tape is easilyinstalled and retained in the dispensing device; to provide such a tapedispensing device for cable lashing machines which is operative toeffect tension in the tape dispensed therefrom; to provide such a tapedispensing device which effects a smooth and even pay out of tapetherefrom; to provide such a tape dispensing device wherein a core androll of lashing tape thereon is rotatably mounted on a cable lashingmachine and retained in a compartment of said machine and easilyinstalled and removed from the tape dispensing device; to provide such atape dispensing device having a cone-shaped direction changing guideroller for directing the tape toward a cable and supporting strand ormessenger to be lashed together; and to provide such a tape dispensingdevice which is easily and directly installed on the Harley type cablelashing machines, economical to manufacture, durable in construction,positive in operation, and particularly well adapted for the proposeduse.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent fromthe following description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings wherein are set forth by way of illustration and example,certain embodiments of this invention.

FIG. I is a side elevational view of a cable lashing machine having astructure substantially as shown and described in U.S. Pat. No.2,663,544 issued Dec. 22, 1953 to Joseph 1. Harley.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the cable lashing machine modifiedto have an improved tape dispensing device mounted thereon and embodyingfeatures of the present invention for converting the Harley type cablelashing machines from wire to tape.

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view through the cable lashing machinetaken on line 3-3, FIG. 2 and showing means for mounting the improvedtape dispensing device thereon.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of tape guiding andtensioning means of the tape dispensing device.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 55, FIG.2 and showing means for mounting ofa roll of lashing tape in acompartment of the cable lashing machine.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the tape guiding andtensioning means of the tape dispensing device.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

The reference numeral 1 generally designates an improved tape dispensingdevice embodying features of the present invention and which isconstructed for use in a cable lashing machine 2 for lashing or securingone or a plurality of aerial cables 3 to a supporting strand ormessenger 4 by means of spirally or helically spun or wound lashing wire5. The cable lAA I lashing machine 2 has a structure substantially asshown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,663,544 issued Dec. 22, I953 toJoseph J. Harley.

The improvement comprises modifications, as later described, to thecable lashing machine 2 for converting same from wire to tape dispensingwherein the tape dispensing device 1 includes structure for dispensingof lashing tape used to secure an aerial cable or cables to a messengeror strand and includes apparatus that dispenses the lashing tape,tensions same and guides the tape toward a position on the cable orcables and supporting strand to be lashed together.

The cable lashing machine 2 has a chassis 6 having spaced apartstationary front and rear portions 7 and 8 respectively and a rotatablecylinder or drum 9 positioned therebetween and rotatable on the chassis6. The front or forward portion 7 of the cable lashing machine 2 isstationary and houses suitable driving mechanism for the rotatable drum9 and suitable supports for the front portion 7 of the machine 2. Therear portion of the machine 2 is provided with suitable means forsupporting said rear portion and for holding the cable or cables 3 to besecured to the supporting strand 4 in juxtaposition as the cable orcables 3 are lashed to the supporting strand 4.

The rotatable drum 9 is provided with suitable compartments 10 and 11which are diametrically opposed and carry preformed coils of lashingwire. The wire from either coil is paid out and wrapped or spun aroundthe supporting strand 4 and the cable or cables 3 as the machineadvances along the supporting strand 4 and secures the strand and cableor cables together.

In preparation for installation of the improved tape dispensing device 1on the cable lashing machine 2, a gate 12 in each of the wirecompartments l0 and I1 is removed from a pin supporting ear 13 havingthe gate 12 hingedly mounted thereon. Each gate 12 has a guide pulleyorroller mounted thereon which is removed when the gate is removed. Guiderollers 14 and 15 are spaced from the guide roller mounted on each gate12 to be engaged by wire passing over the guide roller on the gate 12.The wire guide rollers 14 and 15 may also be removed from thecompartment 10 and 11 during modification of the cable lashing machine 2for installation of the improved tape dispensing device 1.

A spindle 16 is suitably secured to walls 17 and 18 of the wirecompartment 10 and 11 respectively and extends therefrom in asubstantially normal or perpendicular relation therewith for rotatablysupporting a core 19 having a roll 20 of lashing tape 21 thereon forpaying out the lashing tape 21 during rotation of the drum 9, as laterdescribed.

The core 19 is removably mounted on the spindle 16 for rotationthereabout and means are provided for securing the core 19 on thespindle 16 during the rotation of the roll 20. In the illustratedstructure, the means securing the core 19 on the spindle 16 include aninternally threaded recess 22 in the spindle 16 which extends coaxiallythereof to receive a suitable fastening member, such as a threaded screw23, having an enlarged head portion 24 received in a suitablecounterbore 25 in the core 19.

Spaced walls 26 and 27 are suitably secured in each compartment 10 and11 and are positioned to define a tape chamber therebetween. One of thewalls, for example wall 26, has an aperture 28 therein with the aperture28 being positioned to have the tape 21 extending therethrough andtoward a guide member 29, as later described.

A support member 30 is secured in each of the compartments l0 and 11 andis spaced from the wall 26 and the aperture 28 therethrough. The supportmember 30 has a base portion 31 suitably secured in position, as by apair of allen screws 32 adjacent one end thereof. An arm 33 extends fromthe other end of the base portion 31 for supporting the guide member 29and means for tensioning the tape 21 and guiding same from the tapedispensing device I, as later described, toward the cable or cables 3and the supporting strand 4 to be lashed together.

The guide member 29 is illustrated as an inverted U-shaped memberextending outwardly from an exterior surface of the arm 33 and having apassage therethrough for travel of the lashing tape 21 from the roll 20toward the wire tensioning means on the arm 33.

The wire tensioning means is illustrated as a plurality of spaced pins34, 35, and 36 mounted on and extending from an exterior surface of thearm 33 and spaced from the guide member 29. The pins 34, 35, and 36 arearranged in a pattern to be engaged by the lashing tape 21 afterengaging and passing through the inverted U-shaped guide member 29.

The pins are mounted to extend transverse to a path of the lashing tape21 and are positioned to have the lashing tape in a substantiallyS-shaped path, as having the tape passing around at least a pair of thepins with one of the pair of pins being determined by the thickness ofthe tape wherein thicker and stiffer tape follows the path designated 37and thinner and flexible tape may follow a path designated 38 and shownin broken lines in FIG. 6.

The means for guiding the lashing tape from the tape dispensing device 1toward the cable or cables 3 and the support strand 4 is illustrated asa direction changing guide roller 39 mounted on the arm 33 and spacedfrom the pins 34, 35, and 36. In the illustrated structure, a spindle 40is suitably secured on the arm 33 and extends outwardly from an exteriorsurface thereof to rotatably mount a conical body portion 41 of theguide roller 39, as by a suitable fastening device, such as an allenscrew 42, received in the spindle 40 in a manner similar to the threadedscrew 23 in the spindle 16.

The body portion 41 is illustrated as a frustum ofa cone and has annularflanges 43 and 44 on opposite ends of the body portion 41 whereby tapeengaging same is retained in engagement thereon and the tape is directedfrom the tape dispensing device 1 and toward a cable or cables 3 andsupporting strand 4 to be lashed together.

lt is desirable to prevent the lashing tape 21 from moving outwardly ofand becoming disengaged from the selected tensioning pins, therefore, akeeper member 45 is mounted on the arm 33 and positioned between thepins 34, 35, and 36 and the guide roller 39. The keeper member 45 isillustrated as having an arm 46 spaced from and substantially parallelwith the arm 33 of the support member 30 to retain the lashing tape 21therebetween during operation of the tape dispensing device 1.

The roll 20 of lashing tape 21 is retained within the respective tapechambers defined by the walls 26 and 27 in the compartments 10 and 11 byan elongated arm 47 having one end pivotally mounted on an ear 48,mounted on the walls 17 and 18 to replace the ear 13 of the cablelashing machine 2. The elongated arm 47 is movable between an openposition permitting easy installation of the core 19 and the roll 20 oflashing tape thereon and a closed position retaining the roll 20 oflashing tape in position on the spindle 16. The other end of theelongated arm 47 has a notch or slot 49 therein adapted to receivesuitable locking means, such as spring biased hinged bolts 50 and 51having threaded wing nuts 52 and 53 thereon, as mounted in thecompartments 10 and 11 of the cable lashing machine 2 thereby securelyholding the elongated arm 47 in the closed position in the compartmentsl and 11 respectively.

In using a cable lashing machine 2 having a tape dispensing device 1constructed as illustrated and described, the nuts 52 and 53 areloosened and the bolts 50 and 51 are moved to a position out ofengagement with the elongated arm 47 to permit same to be moved from aclosed position to an open position for the installation of the core 19and a roll 20 of lashing tape 21 thereon on the spindle 16 by means ofthe threaded screw 23. An end portion of the lashing tape 21 is movedthrough the aperture 28 in the wall 26 of the tape chamber and throughthe guide member 29. The tape 21 is then moved around a selected pair ofthe tensioning pins in a generally S- shaped path and under the arm 46of the keeper member 45 and then around the body portion 41. of theguide roller 39 which directs the lashing tape 21 toward the cable orcables 3 and the supporting strands 4 to be lashed together. Pulling thecable lashing machine 2 along the supporting 4 effects rotation of thedrum 9 and paying out of the latching tape 21 from each of thecompartments 10 and 11 in a spiral or helical pattern around the cableor cables 3 and the supporting strand 4 thereby lashing same together.

It is to be understood that while I have illustrated and described oneform of my invention, it is not to be limited to the specific form orarrangement of parts herein described and shown.

What 1 claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a cable lashing machine for securing a cable to a supportingstrand and comprising a chassis having spaced apart stationary front andrear portions and a rotatable drum positioned therebetween and rotatableon the chassis and having diametrically opposed compartments forpreformed coils of lashing wire, a tape dispensing device for said wirecompartments and comprising:

a. a spindle secured in a compartment in a cable lashing machine forsecuring a cable to a supporting strand;

b. means for rotatably mounting a roll of lashing tape on said spindle;

c. means spaced from said spindle for receiving tape from the roll andguiding same therefrom during rotation thereof;

d. means spaced from said tape guiding means to be engaged by tape afterengaging said tape guiding means and to effect tension in the tape;

e. second tape guiding means spaced from said tape tensioning means tobe engaged by tape after engaging said tape tensioning means and toguide the tape in a selected direction therefrom; and

. an elongated arm having one end pivotally mounted on the machine andmovable to a position retaining the roll of lashing tape on the spindle.

2. A tape dispensing device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said firstnamed tape guiding means includes:

a. wall portions in the compartment of the machine and defining a tapechamber therein, one of said wall portions having a tape aperturetherein positioned to have tape extending therethrough;

b. a support member secured in the compartment and spaced from the tapeaperture; and

c. a guide member mounted on said support member and positioned to beengaged by tape extending through and from the tape aperture.

3. A tape dispensing device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said tapetensioning means includes:

a. a support member secured in the compartment of the machine and spacedfrom said tape mounting means; and

b. a plurality of spaced pins mounted on said support member and spacedfrom said first named tape guiding means and positioned to be engaged bytape after engaging said first named tape guiding means, said pinsextending transverse to a path of said tape.

4. A tape dispensing device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said secondtape guiding means comprises:

a. a support member secured in the compartment of the machine and spacedfrom said tape mounting means;

b. a conical body portion, said body portion being a frustum of a cone;

c. means on said support member for rotatably mounting said body portionthereon; and

d. an annular flange on each end of said body portion whereby tapeengaging same is retained in engagement thereon and the tape is directedtoward a cable and supporting strand to be lashed together.

5. A tape dispensing device as set forth in claim 3 wherein said secondtape guiding means comprises:

a. a conical body portion, said body portion being a frustum of a cone;

b. means on said support member for rotatably mounting said body portionthereon; and

lnln-m noon c. an annular flange on each end of said body portionwhereby tape engaging same is retained in engagement thereon and thetape is directed toward a cable and supporting strand to be lashedtogether.

6. A tape dispensing device as set forth in claim 5 wherein said firstnamed tape guiding means includes:

a. wall portions in the compartment of the machine and defining a tapechamber therein, one of said wall portions having a tape aperturetherein positioned to have tape extending therethrough; and

b. a guide member mounted on said support member and positioned toreceive and be engaged by tape extending through and from the tapeaperture to direct same toward said pins.

7. In a cable lashing machine for securing a cable to a supportingstrand and comprising a chassis having spaced apart stationary front andrear portions and a rotatable drum positioned therebetween and rotatableon the chassis and having diametrically opposed compartments forpreformed coils of lashing wire, a tape dispensing device for said wirecompartments and comprising:

a. a spindle secured in a compartment in a cable lashing machine forsecuring a cable to a supporting strand;

b. a core having a roll oflashing tape thereon;

c. means for rotatably mounting said core and tape on said spindle;

d. a support member secured in the compartment of the cable lashingmachine and spaced from the roll of tape on said core;

. a tape guide member mounted on said support member and positioned tobe engaged by tape extending from the roll of lashing tape;

f. a plurality of spaced pins mounted on said support member and spacedfrom said guide member, said pins being positioned to be engaged by tapeafter engaging said guide member and to effect tension in said tape; and

g. a guide roller mounted on said support member and spaced from saidpins, said guide roller being positioned to be engaged by said tapeafter engaging said pins for directing tape from the compartment towarda cable and supporting strand to be lashed together.

8. A tape dispensing device as set forth in claim 7 wherein said guideroller comprises:

a. a conical body portion, said body portion being a frustum of a cone;

b. means on said support member for rotatably mounting said body portionthereon; and

c. an annular flange on each end of said body portion whereby tapeengaging same is retained in engagement thereon and the tape is directedtoward a cable and supporting strand to be lashed together.

9. A tape dispensing device as set forth in claim 7 including:

a. wall portions in the compartment of the cable lashing machine anddefining a tape chamber therein, said wall portions being spaced fromsaid support member; and

b. a tape aperture in one of said wall portions and positioned to havetape extending therethrough toward said tape guide member.

10. A tape dispensing device as set forth in claim 7 includa. wallportions in the compartment of the cable lashing machine and defining atape chamber therein, said wall portions being spaced from said supportmember, one of said wall portions having a tape aperture thereinpositioned to have tape extending therethrough; and b. an elongated armhaving one end pivotally mounted on the machine and movable to aposition retaining the tape within the tape chamber.

1. In a cable lashing machine for securing a cable to a supportingstrand and comprising a chassis having spaced apart stationary front andrear portions and a rotatable drum positioned therebetween and rotatableon the chassis and having diametrically opposed compartments forpreformed coils of lashing wire, a tape dispensing device for said wirecompartments and comprising: a. a spindle secured in a compartment in acable lashing machine for securing a cable to a supporting strand; b.means for rotatably mounting a roll of lashing tape on said spindle; c.means spaced from said spindle for receiving tape from the roll andguiding same therefrom during rotation thereof; d. means spaced fromsaid tape guiding means to be engaged by tape after engaging said tapeguiding means and to effect tension in the tape; e. second tape guidingmeans spaced from said tape tensioning means to be engaged by tape afterengaging said tape tensioning means and to guide the tape in a selecteddirection therefrom; and f. an elongated arm having one end pivotallymounted on the machine and movable to a position retaining the roll oflashing tape on the spindle.
 2. A tape dispensing device as set forth inclaim 1 wherein said first named tape guiding means includes: a. wallportions in the compartment of the machine and defining a tape chambertherein, one of said wall portions having a tape aperture thereinpositioned to have tape extending therethrough; b. a support membersecured in the compartment and spaced from the tape aperture; and c. aguide member mounted on said support member and positioned to be engagedby tape extending through and from the tape aperture.
 3. A tapedispensing device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said tape tensioNingmeans includes: a. a support member secured in the compartment of themachine and spaced from said tape mounting means; and b. a plurality ofspaced pins mounted on said support member and spaced from said firstnamed tape guiding means and positioned to be engaged by tape afterengaging said first named tape guiding means, said pins extendingtransverse to a path of said tape.
 4. A tape dispensing device as setforth in claim 1 wherein said second tape guiding means comprises: a. asupport member secured in the compartment of the machine and spaced fromsaid tape mounting means; b. a conical body portion, said body portionbeing a frustum of a cone; c. means on said support member for rotatablymounting said body portion thereon; and d. an annular flange on each endof said body portion whereby tape engaging same is retained inengagement thereon and the tape is directed toward a cable andsupporting strand to be lashed together.
 5. A tape dispensing device asset forth in claim 3 wherein said second tape guiding means comprises:a. a conical body portion, said body portion being a frustum of a cone;b. means on said support member for rotatably mounting said body portionthereon; and c. an annular flange on each end of said body portionwhereby tape engaging same is retained in engagement thereon and thetape is directed toward a cable and supporting strand to be lashedtogether.
 6. A tape dispensing device as set forth in claim 5 whereinsaid first named tape guiding means includes: a. wall portions in thecompartment of the machine and defining a tape chamber therein, one ofsaid wall portions having a tape aperture therein positioned to havetape extending therethrough; and b. a guide member mounted on saidsupport member and positioned to receive and be engaged by tapeextending through and from the tape aperture to direct same toward saidpins.
 7. In a cable lashing machine for securing a cable to a supportingstrand and comprising a chassis having spaced apart stationary front andrear portions and a rotatable drum positioned therebetween and rotatableon the chassis and having diametrically opposed compartments forpreformed coils of lashing wire, a tape dispensing device for said wirecompartments and comprising: a. a spindle secured in a compartment in acable lashing machine for securing a cable to a supporting strand; b. acore having a roll of lashing tape thereon; c. means for rotatablymounting said core and tape on said spindle; d. a support member securedin the compartment of the cable lashing machine and spaced from the rollof tape on said core; e. a tape guide member mounted on said supportmember and positioned to be engaged by tape extending from the roll oflashing tape; f. a plurality of spaced pins mounted on said supportmember and spaced from said guide member, said pins being positioned tobe engaged by tape after engaging said guide member and to effecttension in said tape; and g. a guide roller mounted on said supportmember and spaced from said pins, said guide roller being positioned tobe engaged by said tape after engaging said pins for directing tape fromthe compartment toward a cable and supporting strand to be lashedtogether.
 8. A tape dispensing device as set forth in claim 7 whereinsaid guide roller comprises: a. a conical body portion, said bodyportion being a frustum of a cone; b. means on said support member forrotatably mounting said body portion thereon; and c. an annular flangeon each end of said body portion whereby tape engaging same is retainedin engagement thereon and the tape is directed toward a cable andsupporting strand to be lashed together.
 9. A tape dispensing device asset forth in claim 7 including: a. wall portions in the compartment ofthe cable lashing machine and defining a tape chamber therein, said wallportions being spaced from said support member; and b. a tape aperturein one of said wall portions and positioned to have tape extendingtherethrough toward said tape guide member.
 10. A tape dispensing deviceas set forth in claim 7 including: a. wall portions in the compartmentof the cable lashing machine and defining a tape chamber therein, saidwall portions being spaced from said support member, one of said wallportions having a tape aperture therein positioned to have tapeextending therethrough; and b. an elongated arm having one end pivotallymounted on the machine and movable to a position retaining the tapewithin the tape chamber.